NV Ca' Dei Zago Col Fondo Prosecco ($22) "I love this wine because it's atypical for Prosecco—it's super-dry, saline, fresh and vibrant. Prosecco often has a little residual sugar, and this is exactly the opposite of that style."

2010 La Grange Tiphaine Clef de Sol Montlouis-Sur-Loire ($28) "Organic wines from this area of the Loire can be too funky for some people, but this white wine is really refined: bright, light and crisp."

2012 Francine et Olivier Savary Vieilles Vignes Chablis ($27)"Olivier Savary is a young guy in Chablis. His family was selling off their vineyards, and he was like, 'Stop! I'll make the wine!' Raveneau is just down the street. The story is that Raveneau told [importer] Kermit Lynch about Savary—a pretty good endorsement, to say the least."

2012 Valle dell'aCate Vittoria Frappato ($20)"A great example of what's happening in Sicily. The stars are getting expensive, but lesser-known producers are making great wines from old-school varieties."

2012 Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Granges ($20)"Baudry's wines usually need time to relax, but this one he wants you to consume young. It's got all that classic tobacco and spice you get from Loire Cabernet Franc."

2012 Edmunds St. John Bone–Jolly Gamay Noir ($22)"Steve Edmunds has inspired a lot of other California winemakers, especially some of the younger guys. They're often the ones getting the attention, but the truth is he's been doing this style of low-alcohol, balanced wine forever. This one's like a cru Beaujolais—it's made from the same grape variety, Gamay."

2011 Georges Descombes Morgon ($24) "This cru Beaujolais has everything that's great about wines from Morgon—power, but with elegance and structure. Since Descombes hasn't gotten the recognition of Lapierre, Thévenet or Foillard, his prices have stayed low."